Player News

Hisashi Iwakuma turned in a dominant performance in earning a no-decision against the Twins on Sunday, allowing just three hits and one run over 8 2/3 innings before the Mariners picked up a 4-1 win in extra innings.

Iwakuma struck out eight and walked one in the spectacular performance, but he would not earn a victory. After Nelson Cruz homered in the top of the ninth to give the Mariners a 1-0 lead, Iwakuma would trot out to try for the complete game and subsequently allow a solo home run to Brian Dozier. The Mariners would eventually win 4-1 in 11 innings. No-decision aside, it was a great start. He's been inconsistent since returning from injury in early July, but outings like this are a reminder that expectations should be initially tempered when a player returns from a long stint on the disabled list. For the season, Iwakuma holds a 4.31 ERA and 1.12 WHIP. There's still room for improvement on that ERA mark. He'll try to build off Sunday's strong start when he faces the Rangers in Seattle next time he toes the rubber.

Mike Pelfrey was superb in a no-decision against the Mariners on Sunday, allowing no runs and just four hits over eight innings in the team's 4-1, 11-inning loss.

Pelfrey struck out three and walked one while scattering four hits over eight shutout innings. In most universes, this would result in a win. In our universe, it resulted in a no-decision, as neither team scored until the ninth inning (at which point, both teams notched solo homers to drive the game to extras). Pelfrey's succeeded despite a 1.40 WHIP, posting a 3.65 ERA across 118 1/3 innings. He'll try to keep fighting against that big WHIP number when he takes to the road to face the Indians in his next scheduled start.

Stephen Drew went 3-for-5 with a double, triple and four RBI in Sunday's 12-3 win over the White Sox.

Drew fell a home run short of the cycle. He doubled in two runs in the fifth inning, then tripled in two more in the seventh. The three-bagger was his first of the season. Despite some nice power numbers, the embattled second baseman is hitting just .199/.268/.390 with 13 homers and 32 RBI. The Mendoza Line is so, so close.

Jaime Garcia held the Rockies to one run in five-plus innings, but was left with a no-decision as the Cardinals pulled out a walk-off 3-2 victory against the Rockies on Sunday.

Garcia had kept the Rockies off the board in his first five innings, but allowed a leadoff single to D.J. LeMahieu in the sixth before departing. Reliever Steve Cishek struggled and allowed Garcia's runner to score in a two-run frame. Garcia gave up only two hits and struck out four, but also walked four in an inefficient, 88-pitch outing. The lefty has a 1.98 ERA, a 0.92 WHIP, and a 41/13 K/BB ratio over 59 innings in nine starts this season. He'll toe the rubber against the Brewers in a road start next.

Joe Panik admitted after Sunday's game that his nagging back stiffness is not improving and that he's growing frustrated.

Panik will see the trainers again on Monday, but it's starting to sound as though he may need a trip to the disabled list. Ehire Adrianza has been filling in during his absence, and would continue to do so should Panik get forced to the DL.

Melky Cabrera went 2-for-4 with an RBI single in Sunday's loss to the Yankees.

The Melk Man hit his RBI single off of Yankees starter Ivan Nova in the sixth inning. Unfortunately for the White Sox, the Bombers held a 9-0 lead at the time of Cabrera's base knock. Needless to say, the Yankees won the game. Cabrera's been swinging a hot bat of late and has worked his overall batting line up to .287/.326/.403 with seven homers and 53 RBI.

Yohan Flande allowed two runs in five innings, taking a no-decision in Sunday's loss to the Cardinals.

He made a mistake in his final inning, serving up a two-run home run to Randal Grichuk in the fifth inning to break a scoreless tie. The scattered four hits overall, walking none and striking out three. Across two starts and seven relief appearances, the lefty has a 3.67 ERA, a 1.22 WHIP, and a 17/7 K/BB ratio in 27 innings. He's slated for a road start against the Nationals next.

Randal Grichuk went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Sunday's win against the Rockies.

Grichuk broke a scoreless tie in the fifth inning with a two-run shot off of starter Yohan Flande. The outfielder has been on a power surge, homering five times in his last 13 games, giving him 12 total on the season with 38 RBI and a .288/.338/.564 batting line.